Combination pull and locking assembly for automobile doors



Feb. 18, 1969 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 3,

COMBINATION PULL AND LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS FiLed Nov. 16, 1966 Sheet of :3

INVENTOR EARL M. TRAMMELL JR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 18, 1969 E M TRAMMELL, JR 3,428,350

OMBINATION PULL AND LOCHINGASEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Filed Nov. 16, 1966 7 Sheet 2 lNVENTOR EARL M. TRAMMELL JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,428,350 COMBINATION PULL AND LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Earl M. Trammell, Jr., Ladue, M0.

(P.O. Box 435, St. Louis, Mo. 63166) Filed Nov. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 594,835 US. Cl. 292-3363 16 Claims Int. Cl. E05b 5/ 00, 7/00; G05g 5/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The automobile door incorporates a lock of conventional type that can be utilized to selectively latch the door to preclude opening from the outside. A door pull, constituting an actuating means, is mounted on the inside of the door and is operatively connected to the lock by a connecting means for conditioning the lock, as the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door, so that the door is latched when fully closed. A push button reciprocatively mounted on and carried by the door can be selectively manipulated from the inside "of the automobile to condition the lock to latch the door in order to preclude opening from outside of the automobile when the button is moved to one position and to unlatch the door when moved to another positionfA connecting means between the door pulland the push button and lock causes the button to be moved automatically to the said one position as the lock is conditioned for latching during the act of closing the door. The connecting means enables independent operation of the push button in its usual manner with alfecting the door pull.

The push button is disposed toward the front of the door so that it is readily visible and accessible to the occupant of the automobile in determining whether or not the door lock is conditioned for latching.

As disclosed, the door pull can be an individual door pull, a designed part of an armrest, a door handle or any other element usually gripped and pulled by the occupant to close the door. i

The present safety latch assembly is particularly suitable to utilize" a tubular shield of the type disclosed and claimed by applicants prior Patent No. 2,735,289. This shield is disposed about the push button to preclude digital access tothe button and is provided with a slot through which the ignition key may be inserted for actuating the button to the said one position in which the lock is conditioned for latching. The tubular shield prevents the ignition key from being left andlocked in the automobile.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to improvements in automatic door pulllocking system, and more particularly to an improved system of this type which can be utilized in automobile doors to safeguard persons riding in the automobile.

In the heretofore conventional types of locking systems utilized in automobile doors, the door lockwas conditioned for latching to preclude opening from the outside by the manipulation of some actuating means by the occupant from the inside of the automobile after the door was closed. For example, a push button was reciprocatively mounted and carried by the door so that it could be depressed selectively to one position which would condition the lock for latching, and so that it could be selectively raised for unlatching. These prior" systems required a positive act on the part of the occupant after the door was closed in order to latch the door. In U.S. Patent No. 2,707,127 the push button was auto- 3,428,350 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 matically raised and lowered for conditioning the door lock as the window of such door was lowered or raised respectively. However, none of the prior art discloses any means for automatically conditioning the door lock for latching when and as the door is closed by the occupant from the inside of the automobile, thereby obviating any positive act on the occupants part after the door is closed to condition such lock for latching.

Summary of the invention The present safety latch assembly provides added safety and convenience in the operation and locking of automobile doors. The assembly provides means for a door pull, whether it be an individual door pull, a design part of an armrest, a door handle or the like to operate in combination with the door lock mechanism so that when an occupant of an automobile closes the door by the door pull, the same action automatically conditions the door lock to latch the door when closed. The safety feature of the improved pull locking system is apparent when it is understood that the need for the occupant of the automobile to take positive action to lock the door, as by depressing the conventional push button, after entering the automobile, is practically eliminated.

The safety latch assembly includes a door pull, usually gripped and pulled to close the door, operatively connected by means to a lock means carried by the door for conditioning the lock means, as the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door, so that the door is latched when fully closed. The door pull is mounted for movement between limits, the door pull being usually located in one limit, and movable to the other limit when pulled during the act of closing the door so as to condition the lock means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the actuating means is an armrest mounted for movement between limits, the armrest being usually located in one limit and being movable to the other limit so as to condition the lock means upon supporting a weight such as an occupants arm after the door is closed.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the door pull is carried by an armrest, and the armrest is mounted for movement between limits and is movable to the said other limit when the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door so as to condition the lock means.

The door pull can be a handle rotatively mounted on the door about a first axis and pivotally mounted about a second axis angularly related to the first axis. A connecting means operatively connects the handle to the lock means for selectively unlatching the lock means when the handle is rotated about the first axis. Connecting means operatively connects the handle to the lock means for conditioning the lock means when the handle is pivotally moved about the second axis as the handle is pulled during the act of closing the door so that the door will latch when fully closed. It is advantageous to provide means engageable with the handle to preclude rotative movement of the handle about the first axis: as the handle is pivotally moved about the second axis so that the lock means is conditioned during the act of closing the door for latching when closed, and is not simultaneously 'unlatched.

A push button is provided to condition the lock means to latch the door when moved to one position and to unlatch the door when moved to another position. Means operatively connect the push button to the connecting means between the door pull and lock means for moving the button to the said one position to latch the door when the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door.

A tubular shield is disposed about the push button to preclude digital access to the button. The shield is provided with a slot through which the ignition key may be inserted for actuating the button to said one position for conditioning the door lock for latching. The button and shield have separable, abutting portions enabling the button to be manually moved to said other position to condition the door lock -for unlatching by movement of the shield. The shield assures that the ignition will not be locked in the automobile when the occupant leaves the automobile, locks and closes the door.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the automobile door and one embodiment of the safety latch assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the door pull mounting utilized in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the automobile door utilizing another embodiment of the safety latch assembly;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of the means operatively interconnecting the door pull and the linkage of the push button utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an automobile door utilizing still another embodiment of the safety latch assembly;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the door pull utilized in FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the door pull shown in FIG. 6.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be understood that the automobile door generally indicated by 10 is usually hinged at the front end 11 to the automobile body. A lock indicated by 12 is provided adjacent the rear end 13 of the door 10 for retaining the door 10 in its closed position. The specific construction of the lock 12 forms no part of the present invention, and detailed description and illustrations thereof are not considered necessary for a full understanding of this invention. It is suflicient to state that the latch mechanism incorporating the lock 12 embodies a latching member 14, an outside operated door handle (not shown) and an inside operated handle 15 operatively connected to the mechanism by appropriate connecting means (not shown). Reference is hereby made to US. Patents Nos. 2,039,873, 2,707,127, 2,871,049 and 3,020,076 which show and describe different forms of latch mechanisms suitable for this purpose.

The inside door handle 15 is mounted on and carried by an armrest 16 attached to the inside of door 10.

Extending through an aperture in the garnish molding of door 10 is a push button 17. The lower end of the button 17 is pivotally connected by rod 20 to one end of a bellcrank 21. The other end of the bellcrank 21 is pivotally connected by a rod 22 to a rockable lever 23 constituting a part of the lock 12. The conventional arrangement is such that when the push button 17 is in its de pressed or lowered position, the outside operated door handle (not shown) and inside handle 15 are rendered inoperative or ineffective. On the other hand, when the push button 17 is in its raised position, the outside door handle (not shown) and inside handle 15 are rendered effective for retracting or releasing the latching member 14. The button 17 does not raise automatically when the door 10 is closed.

Mounted on the inside of door 10 is a door pull generally indicated by 24 that is usually gripped and pulled by the occupant from the inside of the automobile in order to close the door 10. This door pull 24, constituting an actuating means, includes a pair of spaced brackets 25 and 26 fixed to and carried by the door 10. A pull bar 27 extends between and interconnects the brackets 25 and 26. One end of the pull bar 27 is pivotally mounted by pin 30 to the bracket 25. The opposite end of the pull bar 27 is movable between limits within a 810i 31 formed in the bracket 26.

A connecting means operatively interconnects the door pull 24 to the lock 12 to condition the lock 12 for latching when fully closed. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, this connecting means constitutes a part of the connecting means operatively interconnecting the push button 17 to the lock 12.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, a tube 32 is carried by the bracket 26 and extends through the inside panel 33 of door 10. A cap 34 provides a closure for the inner end of the tube 32. A guide tube 35 is carried by the cap 34, and communicates with the interior of the bracket tube 32. Fixed at one end to the pull bar 27, is a flexible cable 36. The cable 36 extends through the bracket tube 32 and through the cap guide tube 35 for attachment to one end of a bellcrank 37. The opposite end of the bellcrank 37 is pivotally mounted to rod 22 constituting a part of the connecting means between the push button 17 and the lock 12.

Disposed within the bracket tube 32 is a compression spring 40, one end of the spring 40 engaging the forward end of the bracket tube 32 and the other end of the spring 40 engaging a stop washer 41 fixed to and carried by the flexible cable 36 near the rear end of the bracket tube 32. The spring 40 tends to hold the pull bar 27 in its usual position at the rear of bracket slot 31, as shown in FIG. 2.

The safety latch assembly disclosed by the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 can advantageously utilize the button guard fully disclosed in applicants US. Patent No. 2,735,289. It is sufficient to state that this button guard incorporates a tubular shield 42 disposed about the push button 17 to preclude digital access to the button 17. The shield 42 is provided with a slot 43 through which an ignition key may be inserted for actuating the button 17 to its lowered position to condition the lock 12 for latching when the door is closed. The button 17 and shield 42 have separable, abutting portions 44 enabling the button 17 to be manually moved to its raised position by movement of the shield 42.

It will be understood that the button guard can be advantageously utilized in the other embodiments of this invention, and that its structure, operation and usage will be identical to that described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

When the occupant enters the automobile and is seated, the occupant will grip the bar 27 of the door pull 24, and will pull the door 10 toward the closed position. During this closing action, the pull bar 27 will move to its outermost limit within the bracket slot 31 and will condition the door lock 12 through the bell crank 37, rod 22 and lever 23 for automatic latching when the door 10 is fully closed, whereby to preclude the door 10 from being opened by actuation of the outside door handle (not shown). When the pull bar 27 is released, the spring 40 will return the bar 27 back to its first position. Because the cable 36 is flexible, this return movement of the bar 27 will have no effect upon the prior conditioning of the lock 12. During this closing action of the door 10 upon exerting a pulling force on the door pull 24 as previously described, the bell crank 37 acts through the rod 22, bell crank 21 and rod 20 to lower the push button 17. The occupant can readily determine that the door is locked by visually noting the lowered position of the push button 17. This visual determination of the push button 17 is facilitated by placing the push button 17 toward the front end 11 of door 10. Thus, the door 10 is conditioned automatically for latching during the act of closing the door 10.

When the occupant of the automobile leaves the automobile and it is desirable to latch the door, the push button 17 must be depressed to condition the lock 12 for latching when the door is fully closed. First, the occupant can raise the push button 17 upon manipulation of the shield 42 so as to unlatch the lock 12 and permit the door 10 to be opened. After leaving the automobile, the occupant then takes the ignition key and depresses the push button 17 with such key through the shield slot 43 so as to condition the lock 12 for latching when closed. It will be apparent that the use of the ignition key prevents the key from being locked in the automobile.

A second embodiment of the safety latch assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In view of the fact that some parts are identical in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, corresponding reference numerals will be utilized whereever possible, but will distinguish by the use of the sutfix letter b.

In this embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the door b is usually hinged at its front end 11b and is usually provided with a conventional lock 12b at its rear end 13b. The lock 12b incorporates a latching member 14b and is operatively connected to an inside handle 15b adapted to actuate the lock 12b and open the door 10b. The inside handle 15b is mounted on and carried by the armrest 16b.

Reciprocatively mounted toward the front end 11b of door 10b is a push button 17b that is selectively movable to a raised position in which the outside door handle (no-t shown) is rendered effective for retracting the latching member 14b or is selectively movable to a lowered position in which the outside door handle (not shown) is rendered inoperative or ineffective.

The connecting means between the push button 17b and the lock 12b includes a rod 20b fixed to the button 17b and pivotally connected to one end of a bell crank 21b. The other end of the bell crank 21b is pivotally connected to rod 22b, the rod 22b being pivotally connected to lever 23b, constituting a part of the door lock 12b.

The door pull 24b constitutes a part of and is carried by the armrest 16b. More particularly, the door pull 24b includes a plate 45 fixed to the inside of the armrest 16b. The lower end of the armrest 16b is pivotally mounted to the door 10b by pivot pins 46. The pull plate 45 partially covers a recess 47 formed on the inside of door 10b, the plate 45 and recess 47 providing an opening through which the occupants hand may be inserted in order to advantageously and effectively grip the pull plate 45 incident to closing the door 10b.

The connecting means between the door pull 24b and the door lock 12b includes a rod 50 fixed at one end to the pull plate 45 and fixed at the other end to a bellcrank 51 pivotally mounted within the door 10b. A sleeve 52, fixed to and carried by the other end of the bellcrank 51, slidably receives the rod 22b. As will be understood upon later detailed description, the front end of the sleeve 52 will selectively engage a stop member 53 fixed to and carried by the rod 22b in order to depress the push button 17b and condition the lock 12b for latching.

The pull plate 45, together with its cooperating armrest 16b, is movable between limits, the pull plate 45 being usually disposed in one limit with the armrest 16b contiguous to the inside panel of door 10b, and being selectively movable to the other limit in which the pull plate 45, together with the upper portion of the cooperating armrest 16b, is moved in a direction away from the inside panel of door 10b.

When the occupant enters the automobile and is seated, the occupant grips the pull plate 45 and pulls the door 10b toward the closed position. During. this closing action of the door, the pull plate 45 and its cooperating armrest 16b will move toward its other limit about the pivot axes defined by pins 46, so that the rod 50, acting through the bellcrank 51, will cause the sleeve 52 to engage the rod stop 53 and move the rod 22b in a direction to condition the lock 12b, through the lever 23b, for latching when the door is fully closed. Simultaneously, movement of the rod 22b will depress the push button 17b to its lowered position through the bellcrank 21b and the rod 20b. When the door 10b is fully closed, the lock 12b latches the door and precludes opening of the door 10b by the outside handle (not shown). When the occupant releases the pull plate 45, the plate 45, together with its associated armrest 16b, will swing back toward its initial limit. During this return movement of the door pull 24b, the sleeve 52 will slide freely on the rod 22b, and consequently will not adversely afi'ect the latch conditioning of the lock 12b.

It will be understood that the occupant automatically conditions the lock 12b for latching when the door 10b is fully closed during the act of closing the door 10b. Because the push button 17b is lowered, the occupant can readily determine visually the fact that the lock 12a is so conditioned.

The push button 17b can be independently operated to condition the lock 12b in its usual manner because the rod 2212 will slide freely through the sleeve 52 during such manipulation, without interfering with the connecting means operatively connecting the door pull 24b to the rod 22b.

The button guard disclosed in FIG. 1 and in applicants U. S. Patent No. 2,735,289 can be advantageously utilized in this embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, and will operate essentially in the manner previously described with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

If for some reason the door 10b is closed by some one other than the occupant pulling on the inside through the door pull 24b, it is still possible that the occupant will automatically condition the lock 12b for latching. For example, the occupant will usually place his arm on the armrest 16b. The weight of occupants arm will pivot the armrest 16b about the pivot axis provided by pins 46 to move the pull plate 45 and the associated armrest 16b to the pivoted limit, which will have the same purpose and function previously described to condition the door lock 12b.

A third embodiment of the safety latch mechanism is disclosed in FIGS. 5 through 7. Becauseparts of this embodiment are substantially identical with those previously described with respect -to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIGS. 3 and 4, identical reference numbers will be utilized to indicate corresponding parts wherever possible, but will differ by the use of the suffix letter 0.

The automobile door 10c is usually mounted at its front end to the automobile body. A conventional type of door lock 12c is mounted on the rear end of the door 100. The lock 12c includes a latching member 14c operatively connected to an inside handle 54 constituting the door pull 24c. An armrest is attached to and carried by the inside of the door 10c.

As is best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the handle 54 is pivotally mounted by pin 55, constituting a pivot axis, to a. base 56 that is rotatively mounted by tube 56 that is rotatively mounted by tube 57, constituting a rotative axis, to the inside panel 330 of door 100. The axes 'defined by pivot pin 55 and by rotative sleeve 57 are right angularly related. An arm 60 is fixed to and rotatable with the inner end of sleeve 57, the arm 60 being operatively connected to the door lock 12c by rod 61. Upon rotative movement of the handle 54 about the axis defined by sleeve 57, the latching member 14c can be retracted as is conventional, to unlatch the door 100 for opening.

The connecting means operatively interconnecting the handle 54, constituting the door pull 240, with the lock 120 includes a flexible cable 62 fixed to the handle 54 at one side of the pivot pin 55, the cable 62 extending through the sleeve 57 and through a guide tube 63. The other end of the flexible cable 62 is attached to lever 23c constituting a component part of the door lock 120. As the handle 54 is gripped and pulled incident to closing the door 120, the handle 54 will pivot about the axis of pin 55 and will exert a pull on the flexible cable 62, and thereby act through the lever 230 to condition the door lock 12c for latching when the door 100 is fully closed. The handle 54 is movable between limits about its pivot axis defined by pin 55, the handle 54 being usually maintained in its initial position illustrated in FIG. 6 and movable to a pivoted limit during pulling action.

A push button 170 is reciprocatively mounted on the door 12c and is operatively connected by connecting means to the door lock 12c. This connecting means includes a rod 200 having one end attached to and movable with the button 17c, and having the opposite end pivotally mounted to the lever 23c. When the push button 17c is raised, the door lock 12c is conditioned so that the door 100 can be opened by the outside handle (not shown). When the push button 170 is depressed to its lowered position, the door lock 120 is conditioned for latching when the door is closed so that the door 10c cannot be opened by the outside handle (not shown).

When the occupant enters the automobile and is seated, the occupant grips the handle 54 and exerts an inward pull in order to close the door 10c. Upon exertion of this inward pull, the handle 54 will pivot about the axis defined by pins 55 and will condition the door lock 12c through the flexible cable 62 and lever 23c for latching when the door 10c is fully closed. This latch conditioning is achieved automatically during the act of closing the door 10c.

Simultaneously, as the door lock 120 is conditioned for latching when the door is closed, the lever 23c pulls the push button 17c downwardly to its lowered position, s

which will indicate visually that the door lock 120 is so conditioned. Of course, the button 17c can be lifted to its raised position to condition the door lock 12c for unlatching independently of any pivotal movement of the handle 54 about the axis defined by pins 55.

As described previously, upon rotation of the handle 54 about the axis defined by sleeve 57, the latch member 14c can be retracted to open the door 10c. It will be understood, that it is not desirable for the handle 54 to rotate about the axis defined by sleeve 57 at the same time the handle 54 is swung outwardly about the axis defined by pins 55 during the act of closing the door 10c. The first said rotative action of the handle 54 tends to condition the door lock 120 for unlatching, while the second said pivotal action of handle 54 tends to condition the door lock 120 for latching. Obviously, there is a conflict of purpose.

To avoid the above explained disadvantage, means is provided which will prevent the rotation of the handle 54 about the axis defined by sleeve 57, when the handle 54 is being pivotally moved about the axis defined by pins 55 during the act of closing the door. This means includes a ring 64 attached to the inside panel 33c of the door 10c substantially about the periphery of the base 56. The ring 64 is provided with a recess 65 adapted to receive the inner end 66 of handle 54 when the handle 54 is swung outwardly about the axis defined by pins 55. For example, when the handle 54 is swung outwardly, the handle end 66 will enter the ring recess 65 and engage the ring ends defining such recess 65 to preclude rotative movement of the handle 54 about the axis defined by sleeve 57.

Yet, the handle 54 can be selectively rotated about the axis defined by sleeve 57 without swinging the handle 54 about the pivot axis defined by pin 55. Upon rotating the handle 54 the handle end 66 will ride over and on the ring 64. Because the handle end 66 is misaligned with the ring recess 65, the handle end 66 will engage the ring 64 and preclude pivotal movement of the handle 54 about the axis defined by pins 55.

It will be understood that the button guard incorporating the shield 42, as described previously with respect to the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be utilized advantageously in the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 5 through 7, the button guard operating and functioning in substantially the same manner previously described.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to several preferred embodiments, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto a ended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A safety latch assembly, comprising:

(a) an automobile door,

(b) a lock means carried by the door for selectively latching the door to preclude opening from the outside,

(0) an actuating means carried by and disposed on the inside of the door,

(d) means operatively interconnecting the actuating means and lock means for conditioning the lock means to latch the door upon manipulation of the actuating means,

(e) the actuating means is a door pull usually gripped and pulled to close the door, and

(f) the connecting means operatively connects the door pull to the lock means for conditioning the lock means, as the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door, so that the door is latched when fully closed.

2. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 1, in

which:

(g) means mounts the door pull for movement between limits, the door pull being usually located in one limit, and being movable to the other limit, when pulled during the act of closing the door, so as to condition the lock means.

3. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 1, in

which:

(g) the door pull includes:

(1) a pair of spaced brackets fixed to the door, and (2) a bar extending between and interconnecting the brackets,

(h) the mounting means includes a slot in one bracket receiving one end of the pull bar, the bar end being movable between limits in the slot,

(i) the connecting means operatively connects the movable bar end to the lock means, and

(j) the bar end is usually located in one limit and is movable to the other limit, when pulled during the act of closing the door, so as to condition the lock means.

4. A safety latch assembly, comprising:

(a) an automobile door,

(b) a lock means carried by the door for selectively latching the door to preclude opening from the outside,

(c) an actuating means carried by and disposed on the inside of the door,

(d) means operatively interconnecting the actuating means and lock means for conditioning the lock means to latch the door upon manipulation of the actuating means,

(e) the actuating means is an armrest mounted for movement between limits, the armrest being usually located in one limit and being movable to the other limit so as to condition the lock means,

(f) means mount the armrest for movement to the said other limit when supporting a weight such as a passengers arm after the door is closed so as to condition the lock means.

5. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 1, in

which:

(g) the door pull is carried by an armrest.

6. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 2, in

which:

(g) the door pull is carried by an armrest, and

(h) means mount the armrest for movement between limits, the armrest being usually located in one limit, and being movable to the other limit, when the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door, so as to condition the lock means.

7. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 1, in

which:

(g) the door pull is a handle rotatively mounted on the door about a first axis and pivotally mounted about a second axis angularly related to the first axis,

(h) a second connecting means operatively connects the handle to the lock means for selectively unlatching the lock means when the handle is rotatively moved about the first axis, and

(i) the said first connecting means operatively connects the handle to the lock means for conditioning the lock means, when the handle is pivotally moved about the second axis as the handle is pulled during the act of closing the door, so that the door is latched when fully closed.

8. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 7, in

which:

(j) means is engageable with the handle to preclude rotative movement of the handle about the first axis as the handle is pivotally moved about the second axis so that the lock means is conditioned, during the act of closing the door, for latching when closed and is not simultaneously unlatched.

9. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 1, in

which:

(g) a push button conditions the latch means to latch the door when moved to one position and to unlatch the door when moved to another position, and

(h) means connects the push button to the first said connecting means for moving the button to said one position to latch the door when the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door.

10. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 9, in

which:

(i) a tubular shield is disposed about the push button to preclude digital access to the button, the shield being provided with a slot through which a car key can be inserted for actuating the button to said one position, and

(j) the button and shield have separable, abutting portions enabling the button to be manually moved to said other position by movement of the shield.

11. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 9, in

which:

(i) the said means connecting the button to the first said connecting means moves the button to said one position only, to latch the door, the button being movable independently of the door pull to the said other position.

12. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 11, in

which:

(j) the door pull includes a portion mounted for movement between limits, the said pull portion being usually disposed in one limit and being movable to the other limit when the door pull is pulled during the act of closing the door from the inside, and

(k) the said means connecting the button to the first said connecting means moves the button to said one position only, to latch the door when the pull portion is pulled to said other limit.

13. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 12, in

which:

(1) a tubular shield is disposed about the push button to preclude digital access to the button, the shield being provided with a slot through which a car key can be inserted for actuating the button to said one position, and

(m) the button and shield have separable, abutting portions enabling the button to be manually moved to said other position by movement of the shield.

14. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 12, in

which:

(1) the door pull is a part of an armrest.

15. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 12, in

which:

(1) the said pull portion is a handle rotatively mounted on the door about a first axis and pivotally mounted about a second axis angularly related to the first axis for movement between said limits,

(m) the second connecting means operatively connects the handle to the lock means for selectively unlatching the lock means when the handle is rotatively moved about the first axis, and for moving the button to said one position only, and

(n) the first said connecting means operatively connects the handle to the lock means for conditioning the lock means when the handle is pivotally moved about the second axis, as the handle is pulled during the act of closing the door, so that the door is latched when fully closed.

16. A safety latch assembly as defined in claim 15, in

which:

(0) means is engageable with the handle to preclude rotative movement of the handle about the first axis as the handle is pivotally moved about the second axis so that the lock means is conditioned during the act of closing the door for latching when closed, and is not simultaneously unlatched.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,298,559 10/ 1942 Fredholm 2925 2,336,211 12/ 1943 Barnes 292l64 2,735,289 2/1956 Trammell -181 3,069,889 12/1962 JohnstOne 292336.3 X

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 70-181 

